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Do or don't: Orange-red lipstick

We got the J. Crew holiday catalog in the mail last night, and I was struck (once again) by how the models' orange-red lipstick is so adorable. I'm not sure I could pull it off with my pale skin tone, but a Glamour editor found a similar lipstick--Heatwave--that she swears looks good on everyone. (Here's photographic proof!) Would you try it?

i love to wow my verrrry conservative engineer co-workers (i do PR work for an engineering firm, so needless to say i'm the one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other) with mac's morange. oh, baby, it's BRIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY DO. I love my orange lipstick and wear it regularly! I was nervous about it looking gross with my skin too at first, but now I'm hooked! It's chic and bold, but whimsically so. You know what I mean?

I won't front that I also thought the same thing, but then I bought the Poppy King for J. Crew reddish orange color and LOVE it. It isn't as deep, but it is a similar hue and it is so pretty. I say go for it!

Just found the most perfect shade: Stiletto by Kat Von D. You can apply it lightly after chapstick for a barely there effect or layer it on thick for a bold pop. So fun and feminine all at the same time.

I actually did try it, but it didn't look like anything special on me - just a ho-hum coral, totally boring. I was so sad! Oh well, my husband picked out a shade that I thought looked totally naff (NARS' "fire down below)that turned out to be the perfect burgundy. I really want to believe there is an orange-red out there that looks this great on everyone (or, honestly, just one that will look this good on me would make me happy!), but so far I haven't found it...

I swear by Revlon lipstick. It's affordable and just as good (if not better) than my MAC lipsticks. I have two coral shades and love them. And I'm pale pale pale! Soo recommend fun lips. It makes you feel sexier.

well i like to wear Nars Schiap (that hot/neon pink) to work (at a museum) so i would totally give it a go! if anybody is nervous about the full-on lipstick, i have one of these tinted balms (hydratint, in crimson) from laura mercier, it's an orangy-red but more sheer. and it actually moisturizes well (unlike most "fancy" balms, which i buy for the cute packaging/pretty colors, and don't work-for me-).

I think this color is flattering on anyone with fair'ish skin. It looks so glamorous! JCrew was also carrying a red-orange color they claimed was striking on anyone (I think it was NARS?) but I'm not sure if they carry it any longer.

Yes! Even before I read thoe whole post I was going to suggest Heat Wave. It is brilliant, and really so flattering on my paler-than-pale and less-than-perfect skin, I totally believe that it would work on tons of different faces. You've got to try it. Seriously, I'm addicted, I can't rave enough about Heat Wave.

I agree with Megan Joy. I have an affinity for the old school green tube Revlon lipsticks. My absolute favorite is Orange Flip. It is perfection (and i am very fair skinned). Do try it and report back! :)

I'm also pretty positive it's Nars Heatwave, that's what I've read, and I LOVE IT. It's the only red shade I can wear - I too have very Anglo skin, thin and pale, but with yellowish undertones, so most reds look ghastly on me, but this - gorgeous! Well I think so at least:)

I tend to avoid bright lipsticks, but I think that orange makes a wonderful layer to be toned down. When I got married, I wore orange liner and lipstick as a base, followed by neutral lipstick and gloss over it. It wound up looking like a warm peachy coral, which is perfect for my coloring whether or not it's in fashion.

So funny how the idea of a "universally-flattering" lipcolor is so relative! To someone with fair skin, the Glamour photo shows a wide array of skintones, but for those of us who are much darker, all the girls look pretty much the same! I LOVE your blog; this is not a critique; just saying. :-)

i love your blog. your style is great. would love it if youd check out mine and follow me back if you like! It also features my recently launched scarf line "Charlotte & Lisa". i think its suiting to your vibe.

you know you have to give Josie Maran lip stains a try. I am very reluctant about trying anything lip stain because of them always being too dark. Well not that josie maran ones, they were very gentle and light. Found them at Sephora

I have the Nars lipstick, and I love it. It is more matte and vibrant than what is in the Jcrew shoot, thought. I think Channel Rebelle is the perfect match for the Jcrew look -- sheer, orange/red with a little coral.

This is definitely a more daring color, but you should try it out! I think that this color will look great on tan or pale skin. The model in the image above has pretty pale skin and it looks great on her! I say go for it!

I'm a pale one too. I'm not sure I'm brave enough for this. I see a lot of elderly women come into the store I work at, and a ton of them have incredible fashion. Most of the time I'm simply in awe of their lipstick colors, even if they're not wearing a very extravagant outfit, their lipstick is always marvelous and perfect. I've seen this color on quite a few!

Definitely, do!! I have the Nars Heatwave lipstick and I use it all the time. I have a very similar complexion as you, I'm a pale skinned light brunette, and I think it looks just great with a simple eye makeup. I get lots of compliments and it instantly puts me in a great mood. These kind of colors are great to brighten up a dark winter day.

Actually, Heatwave is the first lipstick that I think I will finish, and will have to buy another bar. Instead of languishing in a drawer with all my other red lipsticks, as they usually do.

i think heatwave is the color they use in the j.crew catalogue. i recall last year there was a blurb about it in the holiday one. its my favorite bars color, i always go back to it, i think it looks especially nice on pale skinned ladies!

I discovered J.Crew thanks to you and other American blogs but there are no shops in Paris. HOWEVER there's a shop opening in London next month so I'm looking fwrd going over there and discovering in flesh! xx

I think it's so pretty, and I've tried to wear it a couple of times, but I think I have a way too big mouth and very full lips, so it doesn't work for me. It looks like I only have a mouth in the face, that's all you can see... I'm sticking with lip color and maybe some pink...

Looks gorgeous on the model! I'd give it a spin! The only problem is, lip color tends to fade out or come off after about an hour on me. I can do glosses because they don't really cake up after reapplying, but I feel like lipstick does. This is so pretty, though!

Heatwave is amaaaazing! I recently started playing with lipstick and my NARS girl told me just to have some fun with this color. I put it on and couldn't believe how flattering it was, especially considering my teeth are not completely pearly white. Needless to say, I bought it immediately after.

I am twenty, and have always been afraid of looking "too young" to wear lipstick. However, the orangey red j.crew goodness changed my mind. I got the Revlon and I've been wearing it all week! Endless compliments. It's wintery and matte and fun. I'm extremely pale with dark hair, which has always made lipstick hit or miss, but you should definitely try it :)

I'm very very pale, and I love my Limecrime My Beautiful Rocket lipstick. It's very orange. My belief that lipstick only looks good if you believe you can pull it off. If you doubt it, then it won't look good. Give it a go :)

Love how that colour looks! I myself have become big into red lipsticks in the past 6 months or so & have converted many friends who thought they couldn't pull it off! I have been toying with the idea of orange lipstick...perhaps I should be brave and give it a try! :)

J.Crew has the most amazing lipstick! it's by Poppy King and it looks good on everyone. I'm NOT lying. Also, the way it goes on your lips is amazing, the way it layers is so perfect for just a light, matte-ish color or you could put on more for a serious pop of color. Just try it, what's the worst that could happen? You end up loving it?